OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A new study that ranks Oklahoma 40th overall in children's issues says the number of children living in poverty rose by 9 percent from 2005 to 2010.
The overall ranking is an improvement from 43rd last year.
The 2012 Kids Count report released Wednesday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation also found the teenage birth rate up 11 percent from 2005-2009 in the state.
The reading skills of 4th-graders and the math skills of 8th-graders showed improvement from 2005-2011 and there was a 23 percent increase from 2008-2010 in children with health insurance. The child and teenage death rate fell 7 percent from 2005-2009.
Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy director Linda Terrell says she hopes the state's elected officials will use the report to help bring children out of poverty.